We’re beginning to develop a campus wide strategy (vision) to provide outdoor
WiFi coverage. Up to this point, deployment has been a piecemeal process,
where we install an outdoor AP here and there without much thought to broader
implications or scale. Aesthetics has not been much of a consideration either,
but I think it should be moving forward.
We would like to develop a comprehensive strategy that aligns the campus master
plan, and provides some continuity/standardization for future deployments with
an eye to collaboration with our campus facilities teams. Im thinking along
the lines of developing a few ‘cookie cutter’ deployment scenarios and
communicate the requirements/expectations of what infrastructure is needed to
the campus planners/designers so they can incorporate (or atleast consider)
them into their plans.
There is quite a bit to think about here, so in an effort to keep the scope in
a hopefully reasonable place, I’d love to hear what others are doing regarding
the infrastructure (not so much the networking and RF at this point) and
overall campus strategy.
* Has anyone already developed a comprehensive campus wide strategy?
* Did you leverage buildout of cellular micro sites?
* What kinds of locations/areas do you find that your users get the most
value/appreciation out of the service?
* Where do you physically install the AP’s and has that kind of deployment
been successful?
* rooftops with directional antennas?
* exterior wall mounts?
* building canopies/overhangs?
* light poles?
* Ideas on aesthetics/concealment/physical access? Ive heard of a use-case
where the AP has been buried in flower beds also small antennas in light pole
globes. How else do you hide the gear? Any good/bad experiences with custom
enclosures and/or external antennas?
* Experiences (suggestions) with providing power for areas out of 802.3
distance specs? Anyone use the hybrid fiber/copper products that are on the
market?
* How do you plan pathway build-outs? Do you leverage facilities and/or
landscape construction to install conduit, etc?
* Any experience with putting hardened equipment (switches/aps) in
underground enclosures?
I could go on and on with questions but I’m really looking for general
advice/suggestions/creative ideas/war stories from others who have already gone
down this road.
To be clear to the vendors on the list, this is NOT a funded initiative for a
campus wide deployment. We’re just trying to do some exploratory thinking, so
please no sales calls.
Thanks everyone,
ste
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